The Theosection Question ???
Been awhile I know, but then I have been away on a 25th wedding anniversary trip to New York (great city even better anniversary) but more about that another time.
What I want to share with you today are some thoughts, questions really about - theosection. I am not sure if that is a real word but stay with me and hopefully the concept will become a little clearer. The question it relates to is "What terms does God require of those who would understand God?"
What I mean is this, anything that we give ourselves to the serious study of whether it is the mating habits of Snow Leopards or the creative process involved in writing of poetry etc every object of study demands requirements of its students. Every object / subject of study requires specific tools and the exercise of certain disciplines that need to be used and followed if the student is to have any hope of achieving an understanding of it. These tools and disciplines, needed for obtaining of a proper understanding of the object of study are shaped not by the student but by the object / subject the student wants to study.
Dissection is a word that we are probably more familiar with and involves the taking apart or breaking down of something into its' constituent parts in order to understand how it is made and functions etc. Dissection is also an exercise that more often than not takes place in a sterile, impersonal environment (i.e. not the natural life environment of the subject / object) on terms and conditions shaped by those doing the dissecting.
Is it possible that we have mistakenly used the same approach to theology and our 'study of God'. That our study of God has removed God from the natural life environment that is so essential to a proper understanding of God. In other words in our theological studies have we engaged in the impersonal work of - theosection, an all too often sterile and impersonal work shaped by our tools and our agendas rather than subjecting ourselves to those..."terms that God requires of those who would study God?"
What I want to share with you today are some thoughts, questions really about - theosection. I am not sure if that is a real word but stay with me and hopefully the concept will become a little clearer. The question it relates to is "What terms does God require of those who would understand God?"
What I mean is this, anything that we give ourselves to the serious study of whether it is the mating habits of Snow Leopards or the creative process involved in writing of poetry etc every object of study demands requirements of its students. Every object / subject of study requires specific tools and the exercise of certain disciplines that need to be used and followed if the student is to have any hope of achieving an understanding of it. These tools and disciplines, needed for obtaining of a proper understanding of the object of study are shaped not by the student but by the object / subject the student wants to study.
Dissection is a word that we are probably more familiar with and involves the taking apart or breaking down of something into its' constituent parts in order to understand how it is made and functions etc. Dissection is also an exercise that more often than not takes place in a sterile, impersonal environment (i.e. not the natural life environment of the subject / object) on terms and conditions shaped by those doing the dissecting.
Is it possible that we have mistakenly used the same approach to theology and our 'study of God'. That our study of God has removed God from the natural life environment that is so essential to a proper understanding of God. In other words in our theological studies have we engaged in the impersonal work of - theosection, an all too often sterile and impersonal work shaped by our tools and our agendas rather than subjecting ourselves to those..."terms that God requires of those who would study God?"
posted by tony at
3:41 PM
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